Immigrants from the new EU member states and the Swedish welfare state

Sweden was the only country that did not apply any transitional rules for migrants coming from the ten new European Union member states in May 2004. The number of immigrants arriving in Sweden from these countries also increased, especially from Poland and the Baltic states, even if not to the same extent as was the case for migration to Ireland and the UK (two countries with transitory rules of only minor importance). The composition of the migrants changed compared to that of migrants who have arrived earlier from the same countries. While earlier many more women than men arrived, now the gender composition is much more even. The study shows that the immigrants are represented in all sectors of the economy but overrepresented in some sectors. The wages of the new immigrants from EU10 countries controlling for education and age are lower than those for natives. This contrasts with that the wages for new immigrants from EU14 countries that are higher than those for natives. The new EU10 immigrants are slightly overrepresented in social assistance but underrepresented in other income transfer programs